Blaney Secures Pole Position at Watkins Glen; Van Gisbergen Hot on His Trail
Watkins Glen, NY – Ryan Blaney claimed the pole position for the Go Bowling at the Glen on Saturday, outpacing Shane van Gisbergen with a late-session lap averaging 122.568 mph. This achievement marks Blaney’s second pole of the season and the 150th for Team Penske.
Van Gisbergen, who has three Cup victories this season—all on road or street courses—qualified second at 122.512 mph, despite finishing sixth in practice. "Bubba (Wallace) came up to me and said, ‘Well, that was a bad idea because he’s really going to wax you tomorrow,’” Blaney commented regarding his Day 2 challenge from van Gisbergen.
The top five qualifiers included Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, and Kyle Busch, with Busch notably positioned fifth. As the race approaches, van Gisbergen remains a favorite, even from the second row.
Sunday’s event marks the penultimate race of the regular season, with drivers such as Alex Bowman (7th), Chris Buescher (12th), and Ryan Preece (17th) needing a victory to secure playoff positions.
Key Qualifying Results:
- Ryan Blaney – 122.568 mph
- Shane van Gisbergen – 122.512 mph
- Chase Briscoe
- Ross Chastain
- Kyle Busch
The race is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET, promising a competitive showdown as drivers vie for crucial playoff points.
